إِذا الشَياطينُ رَأَت زُنبورا

قَد قُلِّدَ الحَلقَةَ وَالسُيورا

When the devils saw a wasp

When the devils catch sight of this stinging hornet,

Chained and shackled

Collared with a metal ring and bound in leather straps,

دَعَت لِخُزّانِ الفَلا ثُبورا

أَدفى تَرى في شِدقِهِ تَأخيرا

They called upon the keeper of anguish

They cry out ruin for the dwellers of the wild.

Expecting further delay

A sloping beast—you see within his cavernous jaw,

تَرى إِذا عارَضتَهُ مَغرورا

خَناجِراً قَد نَبَتَت سُطورا

You’d think, when facing it while vain,

If you confront him when he is unleashed and proud,

It had grown fangs in rows

Daggers that have sprouted in deadly, serrated rows,

مُشَبَّكاتٍ تَنظِمُ السُحورا

أُحكِمَ في تَأديبِهِ صَغيرا

Interlocked, arranging daybreak,

Interlocking fangs that pierce the vitals through.

Trained rigorously when young

He was mastered in his discipline while yet a pup,

حَتّى تَوَفّى السِتَّةَ الشُهورا

مِن سَنَةٍ أَو بَلَغَ الشُفورا

Till six months had passed

Until he had fulfilled his first six months of life,

Or till maturity

Or reached the turning of the year in full maturity,

وَعَرِفَ الإيحاءَ وَالصَفيرا

وَالكَفَّ أَن تومِئَ أَو تُشيرا

Learning cues and whistles-

Understanding the secret sign and the whistle’s pitch,

Sign or point; it gives you more

And the master's hand, whether it beckons or points.

يُعطيكَ أَقصى حُضرِهِ المَوفورا

شَدّاً تَرى مِن هَمزِهِ الأُظفورا

Eagerness- from its dangerous sting

He yields to you the utmost of his boundless speed,

Combing chains from its ear

A sprint where you see the claw digging from his force,

مُنتَشِطاً مِن أُذنِهِ سُيورا

فَما يَزالُ والِغاً تامورا

It still hunts perfectly

Slipping the leather tethers from his eager ears.

Fox escaped slyly

He ceases not to lap the heart’s deep blood,

مِن ثَعلَبٍ غادَرَهُ عَفيرا

أَو أَرنَبٍ جَوَّرَها تَجويرا

Or rabbit freed from its burrow

From a fox he has left broken in the dust,

So God granted the prince

Or a hare he has run down and cast aside.

فَأَمتَعَ اللَهُ بِهِ الأَميرا

وَلا يَزالُ فَرِحاً مَسرورا

Continuous joy and bliss

So may God grant the Emir delight in him,

Honored, blessed glory

And may he never cease to be joyful and glad,

مُكَرَّماً مِن غَبطَةٍ مَبرورا

يُزَيِّنُ المِنبَرَ وَالسَريرا

Adorning the pulpit and bed

Honored in bliss, blessed with every grace,

Adorning the pulpit and the royal throne.